By Sean Zucker –
Typically, the biggest fruit-centric issue facing most people is that they don’t eat nearly enough of it. New research, however, suggests there may be a bigger issue confronting even those on the recommended Apple-a-day program. They could be ingesting pesticides without knowing it.
A recent study published in the American Chemical Society’s journal Nano Letters reports washing fruit with water before eating is ineffective at removing pesticides. Worse yet, most other ways of washing fruit are equally unsuccessful.
The team of scientists examined the impact of various washing methods on pesticide levels across different types of produce. While they confirmed washing fruit can reduce pesticide residues, it often fails to remove them completely. This is particularly true for pesticides that are absorbed into the fruit as they tend to be resistant to water or other standard cleaning agents.
The results were generated after researchers first tested the most basic and common cleaning tactic: rinsing fruits under running tap water. This approach was somewhat effective in reducing surface pesticide residues, but it did not significantly impact pesticides that had penetrated the fruit’s skin. The reduction in pesticide residues also varied depending on the fruit type and the specific pesticide used as well.
The research team also tested soaking fruit in water that included 10 to 20 percent vinegar. This mixture proved more effective than plain water in removing some pesticide residues. However, similar to running water, it was not effective against all types of pesticides. The scientists could not guarantee complete removal.
Commercial produce cleaners had a similar impact. Despite being specifically formulated to clean fruits and veggies more effectively than water alone, the study found they were barely more successful than tap water and did not eliminate all pesticide residues. Ultimately, the only fully successful cleaning method to remove all pesticides and residue proved to be peeling the outer skin of the fruit.
“This study, situated within the expansive realm of food safety, endeavors to furnish health guidance to consumers,” reported study lead author Dongdong Ye, a professor at China’s School of Materials and Chemistry at Anhui Agricultural University. “Rather than fostering undue apprehension, the research posits that peeling can effectively eliminate nearly all pesticide residues, contrasted with the frequently recommended practice of washing,” he told The Guardian.
Unfortunately, this method isn’t always practical or desirable, particularly for fruits that are generally consumed with their skins on or where peeling might affect the fruit’s quality or nutritional value.
On the positive side, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) maintains that 99 percent of the produce tested has pesticide residues within permissible levels. These residues do not pose a risk to consumer health and are considered safe. The USDA added that when pesticide residues are detected on food items, they are usually only present in quantities that fall below the established tolerance limits which represent the maximum permissible levels of pesticide residue.
Ultimately, it’s up to the buyers to beware.
